Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Katie joined the Law Faculty in 2015, having taught at Monash since 2012. Prior to entering academia, she practised as a solicitor in native title, acting for native title claim groups in both Western Australia and Victoria. She holds a Master of Laws in Environmental Law from Macquarie University and a PhD from Monash focussing on the legal recognition of Indigenous water rights.
Katie's research and teaching interests include Indigenous Legal Rights, Native Title, Water Law, Rights of Nature laws, Human Rights, Constitutional Law, Administrative Law and Public Law and Statutory Interpretation.
Monash teaching commitment
LAW5004 Principles of Public Law and Statutory Interpretation - T1 2025
Research interests
Indigenous Legal Rights
Native Title
Water Law
Human Rights Law
Constitutional Law
Administrative Law
Public Law
Rights of Nature Laws
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation -
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 15 Life on Land -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
Projects
- 3 Finished
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Evaluation of the Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010 (Vic) and the Settlement Act agreements against UNDRIP
Castan, M. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Galloway, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & O'Bryan, K. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/03/25 → 15/04/25
Project: Research
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Developing Melbourne Water's Community Focussed Diversity and Inclusion Lens for Enhanced Liveability Outcomes
Satur, P. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), O'Bryan, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Muir, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Bragge, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Francis, N. (Chief Investigator (CI))
Melbourne Water Corporation (MWC) (trading as Melbourne Water) (Victoria)
29/06/21 → 30/06/22
Project: Research
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AWA: Accessing Water to Meet Aboriginal Economic Development Needs
O'Bryan, K. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI))
8/07/19 → 31/12/20
Project: Research
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Aqua Nullius
O'Bryan, K. & Harriden, K., 2025, 100 Words for Water: A Projective Ecosocial Vocabulary. Franch i Gilabert, E., Luzárraga, M. & Muiño, A. (eds.). 1st ed. Switzerland: Lars Muller Publishers, p. 22-23 2 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Encyclopaedia / Dictionary Entry › Other
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UNDRIP analysis of Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010 (TOSA)
Castan, M., Galloway, K. & O'Bryan, K., Nov 2025, Melbourne Vic Australia: Monash University. 73 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned Report (Non-Public) › Research
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Future directions
Nagtzaam, G., Beaufoy, M. & O'Bryan, K., 2024, Legal Pathways to Deep Decarbonisation in Australia. Nagtzaam, G., O'Bryan, K. & Beaufoy, M. (eds.). 1st ed. Chatswood NSW Australia: Lexis Nexis, p. 323-355 33 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Other › peer-review
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Future directions in legal education: Earth jurisprudence and rights of nature
O'Bryan, K., Aug 2024, In: Bond Law Review. 36, 1, p. 7-35 29 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Law and the environment: an act of legal kintsugi?
Clark, C., O'Bryan, K., O'Donnell, E., Page, J. & Pelizzon, A., 2024, In: Legalities. 4, 2, p. 119-137 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Activities
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Water Rights and First Nations Women – Law and Policy in Settler States 2025
Harriden, K. (Organiser) & O'Bryan, K. (Organiser)
19 Sept 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
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Alternative Law Journal (Journal)
O'Bryan, K. (Editorial board member)
Jun 2025 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial responsibility
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Submission to the Australian Law Reform Commission on the Review of the Future Acts Regime Discussion paper
O'Bryan, K. (Contributor)
10 Jul 2025Activity: External Academic Engagement › Submissions to industry or govt committees, commissions and inquiries
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The impact of 'aqua nullius' on Indigenous women's water rights in settler-states
Harriden, K. (Contributor) & O'Bryan, K. (Contributor)
18 Sept 2025Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
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Submission to the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee on reform of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth)
O'Bryan, K. (Contributor)
24 Nov 2025Activity: External Academic Engagement › Submissions to industry or govt committees, commissions and inquiries
Press/Media
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Victoria’s made history with exclusive native title – but it doesn’t tackle water justice (Pursuit, 26 August 2025)
O'Donnell, E., Kennedy, M. & O'Bryan, K.
26/08/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Blogs, Podcasts and Social Media › Blogs
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A strong Indigenous Voice to parliament is a sign of ‘healthy democracy’ (The Australian, 23 May 2023)
23/05/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Why Voice vote wording matters (The Canberra Times, 23 April 2023)
23/04/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Cited in 'Indigenous voice: electoral commission launches campaign to combat misinformation and confusion' (The Guardian, 12 April 2023)
12/04/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Other
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Australia's Rights of Nature Push Flows from the Yarra River (Monash Lens, 3 March 2023)
3/03/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Blogs, Podcasts and Social Media › Blogs